Wool Poncho

[Carl Brickey]

#6703

Does anyone hunt wearing a wool poncho (similar to what G. Fred sells)? If so, I’m just wondering how you like it, pros and cons etc. I made one out of an old army blanket ($10) but haven’t used it yet.

Carl

[Ralph]

#53903

Good question.

I guess there might be a way to do it but I’ve never figured out, when using my longbow, how to keep the poncho and my bowstring separate from each other when I get into my shooting stance and loose the string.

I had a muley buck at 10 yrds totally enamored in the scent of a doe’s after parts and had no clue I existed. When I shot, kerwhomp, the arrow went nuts, the deer went nuts and I went what the………..

My poncho and the bowstring didn’t do well together.

I haven’t tried a poncho since other than they be really nice at the g’son’s football games. Wool doesn’t block wind overly well however.

Maybe it’s just my lack of knowledge of how to use???

Not one of G Fred’s ponchos, but a homemade one.

:?:?

[Doc Nock]

#53918

I’m like R2 (scary thought) in that even rain ponchos seem to be great wear to stand straight up and stock still…but that is also likely operator error!:shock::oops:

I have Theressa’s wool pull over and mackinaw. Love them both, but the Mac is super hard to get on and off… I feel like a snake trying to shed skin! Wool rather clings to itself…After I made that investment, she came out with the zippered unit! Doh!:wink:

As for the wind break part, I’ve read that wind resistance is a factor of how the wool is made and of what type fiber… either tightly woven or loose, short strand or natural long strand. Dunno. Price of wool these days for the “good stuff” leaves that an academic discussion for me personally! 🙄

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#53980

I really like the Asbell hoodies. As mentioned above, I prefer having sleeves than loose material hanging off me if I’m shooting a bow. I would also think that a thick wool poncho would be pretty bulky to pack and hike with in the woods when not being worn.

As far as wool quality goes, while it’s more expensive, virgin wool is the only way to go, imo. The process for making ‘recycled’ wool found in most less expensive wool clothing creates shorter wool fibers, and strips the wool of much of its natural lanolin coating, which is what gives wool such good wind and water-resistant qualities. A good, tightly-woven virgin wool is pretty wind-resistant.

The Asbell hoodies and jackets are a great deal. Teresa could easily charge more for them.

Also, if you’re looking for more coverage than a jacket/pullover, Teresa is now making a longer anorak, available a traditionalwoodsman.com

[Doc Nock]

#54009

There. Listen to Bruce. I THOUGHT that was the case, but not sure enough to say so…or confident in the terms about the virgin wool vs. the short-fiber, chopped up flank steak version.

When the wind howls, like I’m sure it does in t he Texas Panhandle where R2 lives, and it’s COLD, Theressa also makes a windstopper liner. Wool only can go so far at stopping fierce wind… but the windstopper stuff seals the deal!

I can attest, on my budget, succumbing to the “cheaper” wool stuff over the years and it won’t even stop a slight breeze… about like polar fleece. Brrrrr

[Robin Conrads]

#54046

R2 wrote: Good question.

I guess there might be a way to do it but I’ve never figured out, when using my longbow, how to keep the poncho and my bowstring separate from each other when I get into my shooting stance and loose the string.

I read somewhere (maybe in one of G. Fred’s books) that you should slip the poncho material behind you before you draw your bow. The best way I can describe it is that you would look like you’re wearing a cape. I imagine it’s something you should practice and be able to do quickly and quietly so as not to spook the game. Just my two cents. 😀

[Ralph]

#54067

😀 Now all I gotta do is figure out how to keep it from billowing in the wind. 😀

Some don’t seem to mind though. 😉

[jpc]

#54110

I live in south of France and weather is not very hard here But in less than one hour I can be more than 3000 feet and it’s very cold with high moisture

During years I tried lot of special cloths but never found better than FILSON and his wool.

certainly not the cheapest nor the lightest but cold or rain and sometime rain and cold are not problem

They also stay very quiet

When you buy Filson you buy for life time ! That’s true ! As my mother said : We’r not rich enough to buy cheap

Filson (http://www.filson.com/ ) first quality wool allows you to stay hours under rain without be wet

[Carl Brickey]

#54134

Thanks for the input everyone! It’s calling for high wind and high 30’s where I’ll be hunting this weekend, and I figured I’d put the army blanket poncho to the test. Web Mom, I think I read that in one of his books as well (“Stalking and Still Hunting” maybe?) but I lent it to my brother and he “misplaced” it! I guess I’ll try the poncho first and if I’m lucky enough to get a shot, I’ll give an update on how it went!

Carl

[James Harvey]

#54361

Clint Eastwood made a bunch of poncho “how to” videos in the 60’s 😉

But seriously, I’m sure he had that mexican poncho slung over one shoulder and out of the way.

[Doc Nock]

#54451

Careful, now there, Aussie!! You be messin with an American Icon there, Hoss! 😆

That was in the G, B & U that he left his drover coat with the dying confederate soldier he shared a smoke with…and picked up the poncho lying there and wore it in the rest of the Spaghetti Westerns.

Loved the way he’d flip it up over his left shoulder when he was ready to draw and shoot his 6-killer right handed!

Not sure the bow shot works the same… :P:lol:

[Ralph]

#54460

Hey Doc, don’t let Jim pull the wool over your eyes. 😀

[Doc Nock]

#54472

:lol::roll::D:lol:

[James Harvey]

#54677

Don’t worry Doc, I know about them because I’ve seen every one of his westerns… more than once 😉

[jmsmithy]

#54723

I can tell u with my KOM Bowman coat on while hunting brownies on AK Peninsula we took jet boat (engine type) up and down a myriad of streams. I sat comfortablyfeet up in bow of the boat while other two hunters shivered behind me :-))

[Carl Brickey]

#54973

Thanks guys! I practiced last night whilst wearing the poncho, and as long as you move it up on your shoulder, kind of like pushing up a sleeve, or roll it over Eastwood style while sitting, there is no interference with the bowstring. Hopefully I’ll get to test that on a mountain whitetail tomorrow!

Carl

[Stephen Graf]

#55003

Doc Nock wrote: …That was in the G, B & U that he left his drover coat with the dying confederate soldier he shared a smoke with…and picked up the poncho lying there and wore it in the rest of the Spaghetti Westerns….

Well now I am pretty sure he wore that poncho in Fist Full of Dollars and a A Few Dollars More too. Both made before GB&U. I’ll have to verify by going to my complete set of Spaghetti Western’s titled: “The Man with No Name”

– Good Observation Jim! But I think it’s easier to get a six shooter out of your holster than a longbow pulled back. I tried hunting in a Poncho with a black powder rifle some years ago. That didn’t work out too well either. Wanted to keep my arms under the poncho, but had to keep the gun outside. Bad combo when the deer comes by…

Remember what Tuco said whilst exiting the bath: “If you have to shoot, shoot!” Can’t do that bound up in a poncho.

[Doc Nock]

#55063

I read that, Steve Graff in my trilogy set too… but it seems backerts.

There is that scene after he and Tuco blew up the contested North/South bridge, cross the river and find a blow out church… kid dying. Clint covers him with his drover’s coat, shares a smoke, kid dies and Clint is ready to pick up his coat and move on when he spies the poncho… and puts it on… same exact one he wore in the other two…

Always had me scratch my head…reading says FFD and FDM were ahead of GBU, but the poncho is the same one he picks up in GBU. I hate that sort of thing… I pay attention! LOL But good rememberer, Steve!:lol:

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#55101

[Doc Nock]

#55124

OK…computer whiz kid! 😆

Now yer just showing off! :roll::shock::lol::D

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#55131

“There are two kinds of spurs, my friend. Those that come in by the door; those that come in by the window.”

– Tuco

[Doc Nock]

#55155

We’re having fun now, huh?!!!:lol:8)

Fitting tribute to ole Tuco…Eli Wallach, yes??? hejust died recently… he played a lot of varied roles in his career!

[Etter1]

#55168

Tuco might be my favorite movie character ever. I don’t know what it is about the rough necks.

Tuco

Quint

and Al Swerejen from Deadwood

[Doc Nock]

#55192

Etter1 wrote: Tuco might be my favorite movie character ever. I don’t know what it is about the rough necks.

Ah, yes…that was an era when “men were men and sheep were nervous!” 😯

[quote from an old trapper in MT when I lived there]

[Brent Wold]

#150423

I live in Minnesota and love wool. Not like a Scotsman but it keeps me warm. I have an Ashbell poncho and love it. I also hunt in a 3D leafy poncho. The trick for me is to belt the front of the poncho and let the back hang behind like a cape. This helps in not hitting the bow string. Also lots and lits of practice shooting with this set up. Hope it helps. Good luck.

[Raymond Coffman]

#150483

I normally Cold weather hunt in a wool shirtjac ( layered underneath depending on weather) with rubber bands on the bow arm ( keep extra material out of the way) I also have an Asbell cape I like and wear often. I don’t hunt in the cape….but if I did I would belt it and roll back over my shoulder the bow arm portion…

Scout aka Ray

 

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